9 Reasons You Should Be Drinking More Water

Everyone drinks water but do you know the real benefits of it? And why does your body need that much water? Well, keep reading on as this might surprise you!

If you don’t drink enough water, you’ll suffer from dehydration. Your body temperature will be alterated, you’ll have less motivation, be more tired, and exercise will feel much more difficult, both physically and mentally.

That’s why you should remember to drink enough water, especially during days with a hot weather. Indeed, with an optimal hydration, you won’t feel any of these annoying symptoms. And that may also reduce oxidative stress, which has negative impacts on your brain.

That’s as simple as that! Drinking water, either plain water or in other forms of fluids and foods, is essential to your health. However, despite this, water is only the second most popular beverage in the U.S. after soft drinks. That’s pretty sad, considering how not healthy those drinks are.

Let’s Talk Science

Your body is full of water: for an adult person, it contains about 60% of water. It corresponds to 42L of total water for a 70-kg man.

Note that the more muscles you have, the more water your body contains. One the opposite, the more fat is in your body, the less water you’ll have. Also, the amount of water will vary if it’s a newborn or an elderly. Indeed, a baby body is composed of 75% of water whereas only 50% for an elderly person.

So, where is located all of this water? Well, the most of it is contained inside your cells (⅔ of the water), in the space between your cells, and in your blood (⅓ of the water). All of your vital organs contain water at a different amount. For example, your brain, lungs, heart, liver, and kidneys contain between 65 to 85% of water. Bones are composed of less water: about 31%.

The first goal of water is to detoxify your body as it flushes out toxins and get rid of waste, especially through sweat, urine, and skin evaporation. All of these losses that occur continuously must be replaced daily for your good health.

You’ll suffer from dehydration if your water intake does not equal your output. You need to be really careful, especially in warmer climates, if you exercise, or if you don’t usually feel thirsty.

9 Top Benefits of Drinking Water

You’ll see below the top benefits of drinking water. Of course, we listed only the best ones as benefits are endless!

When you’re low on fluids, your brain will let you know that your body’s thirsty. Of course, you should listen to it and pour you a big glass of water. In these case, try to avoid alcohol as it interferes with your brain and kidney communication, and causes excess of excretion of fluids.

Drinking enough water helps to maintain your body fluids balance, and basically many other basic but important functions.

#2- It Relieves From Constipation

Constipation is a common problem and not the funniest one. It’s characterized by infrequent bowel movements and difficulty passing stool.

It’s recommended to increase your fluid intake if you’re constipated. Indeed, low water consumption is a risk factor for constipation, either in young and elderly. Carbonated water seems to be one of the best liquid to consume in order to get faster results.

Lastly, drinking optimal amount of water will boost your metabolism and help your body to properly break down the food you ate. This way, your digestive system works at his best and promote regular movements. Note that warm water is particularly beneficial for digestive health.

In order to have a bowel function working at his best, remember to drink an adequate amount of water and consume food loaded with fibers.

Also, food containing a higher amount of water tend to look bigger. This will require more chewing from your side, and be absorbed more slowly. You will feel full faster and consume fewer calories as water consumption increase satiety and boost your metabolic rate. Always try to choose water-rich foods, such as vegetables, soups, and beans.

In order to lose the maximum of calorie, drink your water cold. Your body will use extra energy, thus calories, to heat the water to your body temperature.

Finally, if you want to lose some weight, try drinking some water half an hour before you eat. You will feel more full quicker, and eat less calories.

#4- It Helps Your Kidneys

Main toxin within your body is called “blood urea nitrogen”. It’s a water-soluble waste, that is normally excreted in the urine after passing through your kidneys. In order for your kidneys to perform at their best, they need to have an adequate intake of fluids.

If you consume enough water, urine is light in color and free of oder. If not, your urine is much more concentrated in color and odor. That’s because your kidneys trap extra fluid for other body functions.

Also, by drinking too little, you are at higher risk for kidney stones, which are really painful! Higher amount of water and fluid intake increase the volume of urine passing through kidneys. That dilutes the concentration of minerals, which are less likely to crystallize and form stones.

#5- It Helps to Prevent Headaches

It has been proved that water can relieve headaches if suffering from dehydration. Let’s drink to that 🙂

#6- It Helps to Cure Your Hangover

If you had too much cocktails last night, you’re certainly experiencing a bad morning.

Well, did you know that alcohol is a diuretic? It means that it makes you lose more water than how much you take in. This leads to dehydration, that makes you feel thirsty, tired, and with a bad headache.

In order to limit the level of your hangover, try next time to drink a full glass of water between everyone of your alcoholic drinks. Don’t forget to also drink a big glass of water before going to bed. This may not totally cure your hangover but you’ll definitely feel way better if you do so!

#7- It Boosts Your Productivity and Brain

Water gives the electrical energy for all the brain functions, for example memory and thoughts. It will help you to think faster, be more focus and creative.

Most common symptom of dehydration is fatigue. You don’t need 10 coffee to stay awake during the day, try to replace some by a big glass of water. You’ll see, you’ll feel as focus after 🙂

This study shows that student who brought water into an exam have better grade and might help them to think clearer. Water could help you to concentrate better and stay alert.

Indeed, even mild dehydration can impair many aspects of your brain functions. Less water in your body means that there is a drop of blood volume which causes the heart to work harder to pump oxygenated blood. Other organs also work less efficiently. Drinking an adequate amount of water reduces tiredness and helps your brain and productivity out.

#8- It Helps Energize Muscles

Drinking enough water is essential, especially when you exercise. It’s important to drink at least half a liter of water 2 hours before your exercise, and drink at regular intervals during it in order to replace fluids lost by sweating.

#9- It Helps Your Skin to Glow

Dehydration makes your skin look drier and more wrinkled. Drinking an adequate amount of water definitely helps your skin to look good! It will look fresh, soft, flowing, and smooth. Unfortunately, excess of hydratation won’t erase your wrinkles as kidneys take over and excrete excess fluids.

Never forget to moisturize your skin. It can help to “lock” water in by creating a physical barrier.

Tips to Help You Drink More Water

Have a big water glass before and after every meals

Choose liquids that you enjoy drinking. For example, if you’re a big tea fan, you’ll likely drink more of it if you like its taste

Avoid soft drinks as they always contain something not good for your health, even the sugar-free ones

Always have a water bottle with you, in your bag

Eat more fruits and vegetables as it’s the food with the higher amount of water

How Much Water to Drink In a Day

There is not an official recommended daily water intake. However, studies tend to advice between 3 to 5 liters everyday.

Of course, this amount depend on your age, activity level, and other liquids consumption (either from food or beverages). For example, if you drink a lot of tea and tend to eat vegetables at every meal, you’ll might need less water than others.

In order to stay hydrated at your best, your typical day should go as follow:

Drink a big glass of water as soon as you wake up

30 minutes before eating any meal or snack, drink another big glass of water

Before sleeping, drink another big glass of water

Don’t wait to be thirsty to drink water. If you think about drinking, it’s already too late!

And if you’re bored with plain water, avoid soft drinks. You can spice up your water in so many ways! Check out our awesome ideas below and don’t forget to leave a comment or tag us on Instagram if you try some 🙂

3 Creative Drinks to Make Water Taste Better

Golden Glow Water

This detox drink is perfect to spice up your water. It will keep you hydrated and it's full of vitamin C and iron. It's also loaded with calcium and magnesium. No need to wait, this water detox is perfect for those hot summer days 🙂

Prep Time5 mins

Ingredients

1cupwater

½tspground ginger

½tspground turmeric

½tspground cayenne pepper

2tsphoney

½tspmolasses

juice of 1 lemon

Ingredients

Ingredients

1cupwater

½tspground ginger

½tspground turmeric

½tspground cayenne pepper

2tsphoney

½tspmolasses

juice of 1 lemon

Directions

1

This detox drink is perfect to spice up your water. It will keep you hydrated and it's full of vitamin C and iron. It's also loaded with calcium and magnesium. No need to wait, this water detox is perfect for those hot summer days 🙂

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